CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The University of Charleston Women's Basketball team earned a hard-fought 63-58 victory over Wheeling University on Saturday afternoon at the Wehrle Arena. The Golden Eagles used a strong second half to pull away in the Mountain East Conference matchup.

The Basics:
Location: Wehrle Innovation Center
Score: 63-58 (W)
Records: UC 4-7 (2-4); Wheeling 4-7 (2-3 MEC)

How it Happened:
Charleston started slowly, trailing 27-25 at halftime. Paris Stokes led the charge in the second half, finishing with a game-high 16 points on 8-for-8 free-throw shooting. Her steady play helped Charleston outscore Wheeling 38-31 in the final two quarters.

In the first quarter, Charleston battled back and forth with Wheeling, highlighted by Jamia Nesmith's early efforts in the paint. The Golden Eagles kept pace but trailed 14-13 after the opening period.

The second quarter saw Harper Annarino spark Charleston with a deep three-pointer and key defensive rebounds, but the Golden Eagles still entered the break behind by two points.

Coming out of halftime, the Golden Eagles turned up their defensive intensity. Sydney Bolles and Ksenija Mitric combined for nine points in the third quarter, giving Charleston momentum. Annarino remained a consistent presence, finishing with 16 points, including four three-pointers, and a team-high nine rebounds.

In the final quarter, Stokes took over, sinking clutch free throws down the stretch to seal the win. Mitric chipped in nine points, and Nesmith added six rebounds to round out the effort.

Up Next: 
Charleston will return to the Wehrle Innovation Center on Tuesday, December 17, to host Bluefield State University at 2:00 PM.